The Rock Island community was fortunate to receive two separate grant allocations for the Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP).  The purpose of NSP is to stabilize neighborhoods that have a high incidence of vacant and abandoned property and foreclosures.   Grant funding under NSP will be used to:

• Demolish blighted properties that pose health and safety problems
• Acquire vacant, foreclosed, and abandoned properties
• Rehab and Redevelop vacant, foreclosed, and abandoned properties to meet local housing standards, achieve high energy efficiency standards, and improve marketability
• Provide affordable homeownership opportunities to households earning up to 120% of the Area Median Income by offering downpayment assistance and soft-second mortgages.

The first grant (NSP1) was $3,133,000 and was awarded to the City of Rock Island by the Illinois Housing Development Authority.   The City of Rock Island will partner with Rock Island Economic Growth Corporation (GROWTH) to administer the funds.   For more information on the NSP1 Grant including a description of activities and properties acquired click here.

The second grant (NSP2) was $18,530,708 and was awarded to the Rock Island Economic Growth Corporation by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to assist the communities of Rock Island, Moline, and Sterling.  GROWTH created the Northwestern Illinois Coalition for this NSP program. GROWTH will serve as the Lead Applicant to administer the overall program and will work in concert with four Consortium Partners including: City of Moline, City of Rock Island, City of Sterling, and Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA).  For more information on the NSP2 Grant including a description of activities and properties acquired click here.

On April 15, 2010, the Northwestern Illinois Coalition released the following for the NSP Program:

• Request for Proposals for Real Estate Services
• Request for Proposals for Title Company Services
• Request for Qualifications for Architect / Engineering Services
• Request for Qualifications for Appraisal Company Services

Responses have been received and the most responsive proposals will be included in a pool of qualified professional service providers. The Northwestern Illinois Neighborhood Stabilization Program will continue to accept qualifications for any of the above services throughout the duration of the NSP program, which ends February 11, 2013.  To receive a qualification packet, please contact Lisa Ahern at 309.788.6311 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .